The program will branch out to other business once the University examines how well the initial launch works out for business because of the cost to the business for implementing a card reader.

“I think it will also help bring new businesses into the district. If businesses knew that students have the ability to use Tiger Funds at their location, they will have an opportunity to get more student money then they will be more inclined to open business in the district,” said Leah Dawkins, a community redevelopment liaison at the U of M.

The campus sent out a request for proposal, a contract to all the local restaurants, and they had a certain amount of time to respond and Domino’s Pizza, Garibaldi’s Pizza and Ubee’s were the first to respond. Dawkins would like to see it expand to all business so that students can use their Tiger Funds at the laundry mat, Kroger and the Tiger Bookstore and make it really convenient for students to use off-campus. Tiger Funds are not like Dining Dollars where students receive a certain amount each semester. With Tiger Funds, students must put the money onto their campus cards. “I think that students being able to use their Tiger Funds off campus is not a big deal because it is like a debit card the students put the funds on the card when they can just pay cash at the different places that accept Tiger Funds,” said Shunitra Ingram, a senior print journalism major at the university. Dining Dollars will not be a part of the program because all food services on-campus are all contracted through Aramark. “I think being able to use Tiger Funds off-campus would be great because it will give myself and others students a wide variety of food to choose from said,” Dyneshia Lewis, a sophomore biology major at the university. There are several different ways to put money in students' Tiger Funds accounts such as the kiosk located on the first floor of the Ned McWherter Library and the Bursar's office. Students can also log on to campus card and put money onto their Tiger Funds accounts.